Middle class life

[Blueandsilver]

Not one of those goady or provocative titles. I suppose I see Mumsnet in this bracket although perhaps less so than maybe ten years ago.

I’m just thinking things like Downton Abbey, John Lewis, national trust memberships, NCT classes, Volvos, Labradors.

What else?

I think of all that as lower middle class aspiring to middle class.

Same here.

To me the most overt MC marker is those who post offensive assumptions about the working classes with descriptions that make people sound like the audience of the Jeremy Kyle show rather than people with very similar aspirations, interests and incomes as them.

Anyone from a MC background who met me IRL is going to know very quickly that I'm WC and not like them, despite my first class degree, multiple professional qualifications, worthy interests like radio 4, hiking, country parks, liberal outlook and aversion to reality TV, fast food, fast fashion and places like Benidorm. It's the accent mostly plus general don't give a fuck attitude rather than being obsessed with things being 'just so'.

@whalleyt miles off again. But carry in assuming eh?

The biggest change in the demographic on MN has been that many, many of the women on here now think a partner who works and does nothing else is normal. Nothing in the house, no responsibility towards their children. That's WC.
And they spout their 'what else do you want from him, he has a job' nonsense to every other woman living with this inequality. There are no more educated feminists giving empowering advice.

I live in a very MC area (although I'm definitely not). I don't remember the last time I saw anyone driving a Volvo and I'm not sure many round here watch downton abbey but they do listen to the Archers, cycle a lot, attend the book festival. No one has labradors any more it's all spaniels and 'poo's

Does this tread ( and a hundred others before) not just demonstrate that class is a fluid social construct which individuals create through lens of their own practices and value systems?

You don’t get a stamp on your arse confirming your class status. You and others construct a perception of your class status which might or might not overlap. You can call yourself whatever class you like. It matters not a jot to the material reality of life. If you think middle class is Waitrose, then it’s Waitrose. If you think it’s a keen interest in real tennis, then so it is. If you think it’s taking to your bed with John Donne, a supply of Corbieres and a Labrador, then you’re my kind of chap.

Many PPs are overlooking the fact that there are two elements to the British middle class: MC and upper MC - rather different - for example the cliched labradors, I suspect, belong to the latter. The established class system may be something of an anachronism these days but it definitely still exists whether we want it to or not. I suspect younger people may have different views on the subject to the older generation who grew up when traditional class signifiers were much more marked.

How about this:

• caring about class distinctions and starting threads about it on MN so you can check how you're doing - middle class

• Not giving a FF and loudly protesting in MN threads that class doesn't matter - working class

Upper class also doesn't give a FF but that's because they have so much money (usually) and privilege that they don't need to care what anyone else thinks.

Have I cracked it?

@Harridan1981 I think you live where I live! And on a sandy beach the further you are from the car park park access the more MC you are!!

@Notarealmum

DH grew up with a FT housekeeper and a tennis court in his garden as a child. We have inherited a few bits of really old furniture and though sadly stolen I have seen some photos of family portraits painted of a couple of his ancestors in the 1700’s. He is descended from French Huegenots on one side and on his Fathers side has a very ancient Anglo Saxon name that people rarely pronounce correctly and that is dying out.

I have many friends with alleged MC markers.They have everyday plates and Denby for best, as do I. When MIL dies someone will inherit the dinner service, I’m clumsy so I’m sort of hoping she leaves it to SIL. I don’t need a soup tureen that can’t go in a dishwasher. DH has a family bible, the size of one that goes on a church lectern, it has the name of every child born to the family on his Fathers side added over the last 250 years. We have the only son, if he doesn’t have a son that’s the name gone forever. I don’t need anyone having a scrap with me about names, I have kept my maiden name but traditionally that is the end of that name on this branch.

To me they are the established upper middle class.

Seriously! How the hell do you know how much money I have? Just because someone is from a working class background doesn’t mean they have no money!

@KangarooKenny , me too. MN is obsessed with it,

But what on earth is/was MC about Downton Abbey? Popular, yes, but predictable, cliched tosh. Maggie Smith was the best thing about it.

What has Downtown Abbey got to do with bring middle class? I thought the Crawleys were very upper class?

Great description 😊

@BitOutOfPractice I was being facetious but I would say you are middle class due to the stick up your arse!

Therefore, surely a class system based on effectively nullifying the values and status markers of any culture other than white “native” British, for want of a better term, can’t be sustainable in the modern UK? It excludes an increasing number of people here.

completely agree, I'm a 2nd gen immigrant as are most of my friends & find the whole thing bizarre. Why does the size of your tv matter?! 😆

As a person who grew up on a council estate and now lives in a four bed detached house in a very nice suburb, I can assure you they do. It goes a lot deeper than where you shop though. It's about aspirations, opportunity, financial security, optimism, choices, 'cultural capital'. It's about heat or eat, privilege and systemic inequalities.

And I’d say your MC @whalleyt because of your relentless judging so we are even 😬

the point I was trying to make is that lots of people fit into different class stereotypes which makes the whole thing even more pointless than it ever was.

yes I've made it! 🎉 🎊

dat?
You are conflated…?
Nebulous?

“nubulous”?

Yes but it is “you’re” because it is a contraction. No middle class, educated person would write “your” instead.

Not quite sure you are what you imagine you are…

It is primarily about your parents’ background.

A large television, particularly when stuck into a wall, is not a middle class must have.

Or even onto a wall.